{"id":339957,"date":"2023-10-20T03:10:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T03:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=339957"},"modified":"2023-10-20T04:00:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T04:00:35","slug":"volkanovski-swipes-back-as-fight-fans-turn-on-champ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=339957","title":{"rendered":"Volkanovski swipes back as fight fans turn on champ"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexander Volkanovski<\/a> already knows what kind of reception he'll get when he walks into the octagon to face Islam Makhachev on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Russian fighter has something of a de facto home crowd. They let the Australian know how they felt ahead of UFC 294<\/a>, which takes place in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

"They're all on my side now," Makhachev said of the crowd, who showered Volkanovski with vociferous boos on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Read the room': Moment AFL star had to move on<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Is it wacky?': Icon smashing 'stigma' with comeback<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> India suffer worrying injury scare as star hobbles off<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

"Last time, in Australia, brother. Now everything changed."<\/p>\n

\"Alexander<\/p>\n

After Brazil's Charles Oliveira pulled out late, Volkanovski took up the offer to fight Makhachev in a bid to win the lightweight world championship.<\/p>\n

The forthcoming fight will mark the first time that champions in different divisions rematch for the same title.<\/p>\n

Volkanovski is the incumbent featherweight world champion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After Makhachev fired a barb at Volkanovski in the press conference, the Wollongong native bit back.<\/p>\n

\"Islam<\/p>\n

"Islam needs all the advantages he can get. That's all he thinks about. I don't need none of that. I've got these, that's all I need," Volk said, raising his fists.<\/p>\n

"I rely on my skills, not crowds, not nothing."<\/p>\n

Makhachev continued to throw verbal jabs.<\/p>\n

"Everybody know what you need. Just money, that's it," he said in response.<\/p>\n

"What he put? Nothing. He just comes to make money. He not bring his belt. I put my win streak, I put my belt.<\/p>\n

"(While) I am here he'll never be champion of my division."<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

It was at that point Volkanovski tucked into his opponent and copped a rapturous response from the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"One thing I will say about that. I don't know what mentality or mindset he has, I want to avenge my losses," said Volkanovski.<\/p>\n

"It burns me. I didn't get my hand raised. That hurts me. Now I have to do it on 12 days notice and I'm okay with that, I accept that, and I'm ready to put on a show."<\/p>\n

This is the second time Volkanovski and Makhachev have fought. Earlier this year in Perth, the Russian won by unanimous decision in UFC 284.<\/p>\n

Alexander Volkanovski record: 26-2-0<\/h2>\n

Islam Makhachev record record: 24-1-0<\/h2>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/ufc\/status\/1715170973132165326<\/a><\/p>\n

When is UFC 294?<\/h2>\n

UFC 294 takes place on Sunday morning (AEDT).<\/p>\n

When does UFC 294 start?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

3am AEDT – Prelims<\/p>\n

5am AEDT – Main card ft. Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski<\/p>\n

Volkanovski vs Makhachev odds (As of Friday, October 20)<\/h2>\n

Islam Makhachev to win – $1.38<\/p>\n

Alexander Volkanovski to win – $3.05<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/ufc\/status\/1715140773572960661<\/a><\/p>\n

Where is UFC 294 being held?<\/h2>\n

Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n

UFC 294 fight card (main)\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski (Lightweight World Championship)<\/p>\n

Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight)<\/p>\n

Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker (Light Heavyweight)<\/p>\n

Ikram Aliskerov vs Warlley Alves (Middleweight)<\/p>\n

Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov (Bantamweight)<\/p>\n

UFC 294 fight card (prelims)<\/h2>\n

Tim Elliott vs Muhammad Mokaev (Flyweight)<\/p>\n

Mohammad Yahya vs Trevor Peek (Lightweight)<\/p>\n

Javid Basharat vs Victor Henry (Bantamweight)<\/p>\n

Abu Azaitar vs Sedriques Dumas (Middleweight)<\/p>\n

Mike Breeden vs Anshul Jubli (Lightweight)<\/p>\n

Nathaniel Wood vs Muhammad Naimov (Featherweight)<\/p>\n

Victoria Dudakova vs Jinh Yu Frey (Women's Strawweight)<\/p>\n

Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Bruno Silva (Middleweight)<\/p>\n

How can I watch UFC 294 in Australia?<\/h2>\n

UFC 294 is available exclusively on Main Event.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alexander Volkanovski already knows what kind of reception he'll get when he walks into the octagon to face Islam Makhachev on Sunday. The Russian fighter […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339957"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=339957"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":339962,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339957\/revisions\/339962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/339959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=339957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=339957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=339957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}